Cochrane · systematic review · CD004381

Music therapy for autistic people

Geretsegger, M, Fusar-Poli, L, Elefant, C, et al. · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · 2022 · Cochrane Library

SoF tableOnly the outcomes this review put in its Summary of Findings table are listed (the Cochrane Handbook caps them at about seven per comparison). Its other analyses are not shown here.
Questions
7
current version
GRADE rated
7
No studies
0
Included studies
NR
No studies 0 · 0%Ungraded 0 · 0%Very low 1 · 14.3%Low 2 · 28.6%Moderate 4 · 57.1%High 0 · 0%

Ungraded means an effect was reported without a GRADE rating; it is not a gap. No studies means the review found nothing to answer the question. The six categories are a display order, not a score.

Questions and results

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Music therapy compared with placebo therapy or standard care for autistic people

Population: individuals with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder
7 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Global improvement
Music therapy vs placebo therapy or standard care
RR 1.22 [1.06, 1.4]8 studies · 583 participantsModerate
Downgraded: risk of bias
Social interaction
Music therapy vs placebo therapy or standard care
no estimate extracted12 studies · 603 participantsLow
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision
Non‐verbal communication
Music therapy vs placebo therapy or standard care
no estimate extracted7 studies · 192 participantsLow
Downgraded: imprecision
Verbal communication
Music therapy vs placebo therapy or standard care
no estimate extracted8 studies · 276 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision
Quality of life
Music therapy vs placebo therapy or standard care
no estimate extracted3 studies · 340 participantsModerate
Downgraded: imprecision
Total autism symptom severity
Music therapy vs placebo therapy or standard care
no estimate extracted9 studies · 575 participantsModerate
Downgraded: risk of bias
Adverse events Any serious or non‐serious adverse event
Music therapy vs placebo therapy or standard care
RR 1.52 [0.39, 5.94]2 studies · 326 participantsModerate
Downgraded: imprecision